Town officials in Romulus, NY, want to allow Josh Stanley, one of the developers of the “Charlotte’s Web” strain of cannabis, to use part of the old Seneca Army Depot to grow medical marijuana. The proposal would use 20 acres within the 11,000 acre site to build a greenhouse, with “stringent security and a perimeter fence“, that would house the marijuana growing operation.

The former Army base closed in 2000 which “left a big hole in (the town’s) economy” said David M. Kaiser, Romulus town supervisor. The town is looking at the proposal as an opportunity to bring “living wage jobs” to struggling families. Stanley’s company, Citiva Medical, indicated that the project would initially create 20 jobs with as many as 250 when it’s fully operational.

Citiva Medical would still need to apply for one of five licenses the state will grant to medical marijuana growers. Predictably, many applications are expected for the grow licenses. Stanley, who has worked on legislation to legalize marijuana in other states, is hoping his experience and standing in the cannabis industry will help Citiva Medical acquire one of the coveted marijuana growing licenses for New York.